Nutrition

Power 12 Diet

Jan 03 03:37pm

This nutritional diet will ensure you give yourself the best chance of achieving a great set of Abs.

MH designed the Power 12 to include thousands of food combinations.

The more of them you eat, the better your body will be able to increase lean muscle mass and avoid storing fat.

Just follow these guidelines:

Include two or three of these foods in each of your three major meals and at least one of them in each of your three snacks.

Diversify your food at every meal to get a combination of protein, carbohydrates and fat.

Make sure you sneak a little bit of protein into each snack.

Almonds and Other Nuts (Eat them with their nutrient-rich skins intact. )
Superpowers: Builds muscle, fights food cravings.
Secret weapons: Protein, monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, folate (in peanuts), fibre, magnesium, phosphorus.
Fight against: Obesity, heart disease, muscle loss, wrinkles, cancer, high blood pressure.
Sidekicks: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, avocados.
Impostors: Salted or smoked nuts. (High sodium spikes blood pressure. )

Beans and Other Legumes (Including chickpeas and soy, pinto, navy, kidney and lima beans)
Superpowers: Builds muscle, helps burn fat, regulates digestion.
Secret weapons: Fibre, protein, iron, folate.
Fight against: Obesity, colon cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure.
Sidekicks: Lentils, peas, bean dips, hummus, edamame.
Impostors: Refried beans; baked beans (high in sugar).

Spinach and Other Green Vegetables
Superpowers: Neutralises free radicals (molecules that accelerate the ageing process).
Secret weapons: Vitamins A, C and K; folate; beta-carotene; minerals (including calcium and magnesium), fibre.
Fight against: Cancer, heart disease, stroke, obesity, osteoporosis.
Sidekicks: Broccoli and brussels sprouts; green, yellow, red and orange vegetables, such as asparagus, capsicum and yellow beans.
Impostors: None, as long as you don't fry them or smother them in fatty cheese sauces.

Dairy Products (Fat-free or low-fat milk, yoghurt, cheese, cottage cheese)
Superpowers: Strong bones, weight loss.
Secret weapons: Calcium, vitamins A and B12, riboflavin, phosphorus, potassium.
Fight against: Obesity, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, cancer.
Sidekicks: None.
Impostors: Whole milk, frozen yoghurt.

Instant Oatmeal (Unsweetened, unflavoured)
Superpowers: Boosts energy and sex drive, reduces cholesterol, maintains blood-sugar levels.
Secret weapons: Complex carbohydrates and fibre.
Fights against: Heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, obesity.
Sidekicks: High-fibre cereals like All-Bran.
Impostors: Cereals with added sugar.

Eggs
Superpowers:
Builds muscle, burns fat.
Secret weapons: Protein, vitamins A and B12.
Fight against: Obesity.
Sidekicks: Egg beaters.
Impostors: None.

Turkey and Other Lean Meats (Lean steak, chicken, fish)
Superpowers: Builds muscle, improves the immune system.
Secret weapons: Protein, iron, zinc, creatine (beef), omega-3 fatty acids (fish), vitamins B6 (chicken and fish) and B12, phosphorus, potassium.
Fight against: Obesity, mood disorders, memory loss, heart disease.
Sidekicks: Shellfish, back bacon, omega-3-rich flaxseed.
Impostors: Sausage, bacon, cured meats, ham, fatty cuts of steak like T-bone and rib eye.

Peanut Butter (All-natural, sugar-free)
Superpowers: Boosts testosterone, builds muscle, burns fat.
Secret weapons: Protein, mono - unsaturated fat, vitamin E, niacin, magnesium.
Fights against: Obesity, muscle loss, wrinkles, cardiovascular disease.
Sidekicks: Cashew and almond butters.
Impostors: Sugary and trans fatty peanut butters.

Olive Oil
Superpowers:
Boosts the immune system; lowers cholesterol.
Secret weapons: Vitamin E, monounsaturated fat.
Fights against: Obesity, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure.
Sidekicks: Canola oil, peanut oil, sesame oil.
Impostors: Other vegetable oils, trans fatty acids, margarine.

Wholemeal Breads and Cereals
Superpower:
Prevents fat storage.
Secret weapons: Fibre, protein, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, vitamin E, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc.
Fight against: Obesity, cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease.
Sidekicks: Brown rice, whole-meal pretzels, wholemeal pastas.
Impostors: Processed bakery products like white bread, bagels and doughnuts.

Extra-Protein (Whey) Powder
Superpowers: Builds muscle, burns fat.
Secret weapons: Glutathione, cysteine, protein.
Fights against: Obesity.
Sidekick: Ricotta cheese.
Impostor: Soy protein.

Raspberries and Other Berries
Superpowers: Protects your heart, enhances eyesight, improves memory, prevents cravings.
Secret weapons: Antioxidants, fibre, vitamin C, tannins (cranberries).
Fight against: Heart disease, cancer, obesity.
Sidekicks: Most other fruit, especially apples and grapefruit.
Impostors: Sugary lollies.

13 Comments Report Abuse
1. copysimon - Jul 24 10:54am
Oh come on...can peanut butter really be good for you? My trainer explicitly advises me to avoid it! Who's telling the truth because I love the stuff.
2. rgj2604 - Jul 24 10:57am
Print function did not work
3. ebby_brown - Jul 24 11:07am
Peanut butter is just oil and peanuts. Just don't eat the whole jar love!
4. sonja.eastwood - Jul 24 12:22pm
buy the natural stuff from the health food shop not the kraft [profane].
5. lislis111 - Jul 24 12:54pm
what happened to fruit?
6. gbemet - Jul 24 01:47pm
This all sounds good,great staring point for me to get back on track
7. simoncoleman79 - Jul 24 02:16pm
This nutritional regime mainly applies to creating muscles? or for general well being? I noticed no fruit is that to do with the high sugar content?
8. toddleeder - Jul 24 02:25pm
How misleading is the above....it's no wonder there are so many overweight people around.
Not once did it mention to determine your speficic caloric intake, ....fat storage around most peoples mid section is caused from eating to many calories. The above comments sure need this taken into account.
9. emmaki80 - Jul 24 02:47pm
Fruit was actually mentioned with the berries further down as a 'side-kick'... However, none of this food will give you great abs unless you exercise and make sure you don't overeat. This article should really be called 'What foods are healthy' or something.
10. sarahjbatson - Jul 24 05:03pm
Who cares, check out the bloke doing crunches! What an eye full.
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